3 THEATRE 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACTING FALL 2007 INSTRUCTOR

250 YEARS OF PUBLIC THEATRE IN POLAND IN POLAND
3 THEATRE 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACTING FALL 2007 INSTRUCTOR
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THEATRE 101: Introduction to Acting

THEATRE 101: Introduction to Acting

Fall 2007

Instructor: Elizabeth Bell-Haynes

Email: [email protected]

Cell Phone: (213) 268-8749

Office Hours: Mon 10-11am in CWT. Other hours TBA.

Please call or email for an appointment.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Course description: Study of genres, terminology, and disciplines of acting; fundamental techniques necessary for performance; scene study from contemporary plays. Theatre 101 provides an opportunity for students to study acting from two intertwined, introductory perspectives: experiential and academic.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Specific Objectives: Theatre 101 will familiarize students with all pertinent aspects of acting: practically, analytically, and philosophically. By the end of this course students should understand and be able to demonstrate facility with the following:

Presence of the actor: relaxation, energy, simplicity, and honesty, sense of self, creative impulses.
Imagination, inventiveness and intuition: complete immersion in and embodiment of the given circumstances in the text; spontaneity; connection to the heart not just the head. Making imaginary circumstances real to you.
Artistic truth: Truthful behavior under the imaginary circumstances given by the author in the text. .
Basic approach of the actor: given circumstances/story, objectives/goals/intentions, actions/tactics, obstacles, and urgency/stakes. The needs and wants of the character. Acting as doing.
Characterization: Answering the questions "who, what, when, where, why and how." Exploration of "inner" techniques and "outer" techniques, and the blending between the two.
Effective Communication and Communion: engaged, honest talking and listening; connection to character, to acting partner and to audience.
Physical life: active, free, bold and expressive use of the voice and body in connection to the language of the text. Embodiment of the given circumstances and the world-view of the character.
Text Analysis and Interpretation: how to read a play; beats and units of action; dramatic structure; themes; spine/super-objective of the play; social/historical context; staging and blocking.
Professionalism and Work Ethic: commitment, punctuality, and collaboration, positive and enthusiastic attitude toward the work. Respect of self, performance space, fellow actors and the craft.

TEXTBOOKS and MATERIALS:

REQUIRED TEXTS:

AUDITIONING-AN ACTOR FRIENDLY GUIDE

By Joanna Merlin

TRAINING OF THE AMERICAN ACTOR

Edited by Arthur Bartow

GRADING Scale: There are a TOTAL of 100 points possible in the class. The total points of all assignments determine the final course grade.

A=96-100 points C=75-77 points

A-=91-95 points C-=71-74 points

B+=88-90 points D+=67-70 points

B=85-87 points D=64-66 points

B-=81-84 points D-=61-63 points

C+=78-80 points F=60 or below

When the average falls between two grades, the final grade will be weighted toward the positive end of the scale for students whose attendance and participation in class has been good, but will be weighted toward the negative end of the scale for those with poor attendance and participation.

PERFORMANCE ASSIGNMENTS 65 points

1st Midterm First Project Due: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 15

2nd Midterm Second Project Due: Wednesday, November 20, 2007 20

Final Exam Project: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8-10am 30

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS 35 points

Play Analysis Due: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 15

Journal Due: Wednesday, December 5, 2007 20

Grade Reductions

Missing a required SOT production missing -2 points each

Absence -1 point for each

Tardy -1 point for each 2

Disability Services: Students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is delivered to the instructor (or to a TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is open Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00. The office is in Student Union 301 and their phone number is (213) 740-0776.

SCHOOL OF THEATRE GRADING POLICIES:

Academic Integrity: Dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other students, and the School of Theatre. Therefore, USC policies on academic integrity will be enforced in this course. If a paper is suspected of containing plagiarized material (the unacknowledged or inappropriate use of another’s ideas, wording, or images), it will be verified for authenticity by the School of Theatre through Internet services. Please familiarize yourself with the academic integrity guidelines found in the current SCampus (www.usc.edu/dept/publications/scampus).

No late papers, exams, projects, etc. shall be accepted unless advance extensions have been arranged between the student and the teacher, or unless exceptional circumstances occur.
There are no unexcused absences allowed. See policy below for excused absences.
A grade of IN (incomplete) shall only be awarded under exceptional circumstances, according to University Policy.
Letter grades and marks are defined as follows: A work of excellent quality B work of good quality C work of fair quality for undergraduate credit and minimum passing for graduate credit C- Failing grade for graduate credit D- Work of minimum passing quality for undergraduate credit F failure for undergraduate credit

ATTENDANCE AND TIME REQUIREMENTS:

Absences: You will lose one (1) point for each absence. There is no negotiation.

Tardiness: Two (2) tardies equal the loss of one (1) point from your total grade. Please respect the work of others and arrive on time. If you are late and a performance is in progress, wait outside the door until the performance is finished.

Work outside of class: rehearsal of assigned scenes will require rehearsal time outside of regularly scheduled class time, and will require cooperation between yourself and your acting partners. Be sure you are aware of this time commitment. Dependability and commitment are the two most important of an actor. You are committed to performing your scenes or monologues on the day for which you are assigned. If a serious 'excused absence' situation arises, you must inform the instructor immediately and your scene will have to be rescheduled on a 'space-permitting basis.' If one partner does not show up, that person gets no points for that assignment, and the other partner either performs the scene with his or her partner at a later date or performs a monologue.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Monologue: Performed contemporary scripted monologue and an original monologue
2 Scenes: Two (2) performed contemporary scenes.
Play Analysis: A seven to ten (7-10) page written analysis of a dramatic text, either one of the plays your are working on in class, or another play supplied by your instructor. Your instructor will provide you with specific guidelines. Due on the day assigned by your instructor.

NOTE: The paper to be typed, double-spaced, stapled and presented on the due date. It is best to give the paper directly to your teacher in class. You can. Also give it to the SOT Reception Office where it must be time and date stamped. Any papers left for the instructor are at the student’s own risk. Please keep a copy of your paper. Late papers will cause a loss of five (5) points before the instructor evaluates the paper. Any paper handed left for the instructor without a date stamp will be considered late, unless there is a health or family crisis. In that case, you must document the incident officially. Please read the Student Handbook regarding Health Service notes. They do not constitute a basis for an excused absence. Manageable personal and family matters do not constitute a basis for an excused absence. If you miss a class, please contact your instructor. You will be responsible for all information missed. Classes cannot be made up. If you miss a midterm you will lose all points related to that assignment. If that assignment is a scene your partner will be given an extension of one week to prepare an appropriate monologue. Please, build this expectation of "partner absence" into your preparation so you can avoid the anxiety of last minute selection.

5. JOURNAL: The journal should be an artistic reflection of you, and a record of the work completed in class. It will include responses to classes, other creative experiences, or life experiences; these entries may include poetry, quotations, and photographs. Full journal content requirements will be given in a separate handout. Required Theatre Attendance: You are required to attend to one School of Theatre Main stage Productions and one professional production. Please save with a ticket stub or program and include a short written report on your experience of the play in your acting journal.

SERVICE LEARNING OPTION Service Learning is a community-based learning partnership (volunteer work employing the skills of the student's area of interest). The program needs student(s) at all skill levels. Students who participate in a minimum of 4 hours of Service Learning through the Neighborhood Theatre Resource Network (N-TURN) can use this experience instead of seeing one of the productions. Contact Wendy Fong, [email protected] for information; please include the course and instructor name in the email.

BOTTLED WATER is STRONGLY recommended.

OTHER FOOD AND BEVERAGES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN CLASS

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